School Leadership, Faculty, & Staff
The collaborative efforts and intentions of the Board of Trustees, alumnae, parent, employee, and student communities promote the energy, excellence, and values of the school.
Westridge teachers and administrators care about the lives of our students, and through example, strive to invest a lifelong love of learning in every student. More than 65 percent of Westridge faculty members have advanced degrees and many are continuing their education at the graduate level. As leaders within their profession and their disciplines, many faculty members present seminars and workshops to educators at local, state, and national levels.
Administrative Leadership Team
Head of School
Elizabeth J. McGregor
Chief Finance & Operations Officer
Kendis Heffley
Director of Advancement
Diana Bernal O'Leary
Director of Athletics
Melanie Horn
Director of Communications
Kim Kerscher
Director of Lower & Middle School
Zanita Kelly, Ed.D.
Director of Technology
Sally Miller
Director of Upper School
Gary Baldwin
Senior Director for Enrollment Management & Student Outcomes
Sarah Jallo
Board of Trustees
As the governing body of Westridge School, each member of the Board of Trustees is deeply committed to the school’s mission, values, and traditions. Westridge is fortunate to have an active board whose trustees dedicate themselves to upholding and strengthening the school’s focus on developing in girls their intellectual and creative powers and their unique qualities as individuals.
2020-21 Board of Trustees
Richard C. Fung – Board Chair
Darrell Chulay Banta ’77
Holly Bowyer
Kristan Browne ’86
Mike Burke
Sigrid Burton ’69
Laureen B. Chang
Kenneth T. Fong
Akila Gibbs
Marc S. Harris
Erik Hovanec
Suzanne D. Icaza
René Ledis
Valerie R. Lemmon ’92
Richard B. Lord
Christine McCarthy
Donald L. Morgan, Ph.D.
John Scott Mulchaey, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Russell ’69
Dr. Rajiv Sachdeva
Darrell Spence
Linda Tolbert, MD
Laurie Stanford Turner ’82
Emily Ko Wang ’93
Teri Wilde ’69 – Alumnae Board Chair
Meet Our Faculty & Staff
We're proud of our top-tier faculty, a group that combines subject-matter expertise with inspirational teaching. They also bring diverse backgrounds to our campus. Learn more about the faculty at Westridge by reading one of our Faculty Q&As below!
Brandon Kruhm has more than a decade of experience in theatre education as a theatre camp director, teaching artist, and director. He joined Westridge in 2014 and assumed the role of director of theatre in 2017.
Upper School Science Teacher Brittany Coker is an innovator by nature, wearing many hats at Westridge from student advisor and chair of the new Westridge Global Initiative Committee, to technology mentor for other faculty members, helping integrate new learning technologies into the classroom. She has a B.S. in Biology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, her M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Azusa Pacific University, and recently received her M.S. in Biology from Clemson University.
Danielle Houser joined Westridge in 2006 and currently teaches fifth grade mathematics. A graduate of State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, she has two master's degrees from Adelphi University and Ball State University and over two decades of teaching experience. In this Q&A, find out more about her work in the Lower School at Westridge, her passion for teaching girls, and her belief that we are all "math people."
David Prince holds a B.A. from Colorado College and an M.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He joined Westridge full-time in 2014, but previously taught Upper School ceramics and summer school part-time at Westridge. He runs Adjunct Positions, a gallery and project space that has been written about in Los Angeles Magazine and the New York Times, out of his home in Highland Park.
Director of Lower & Middle School Zanita Kelly, Ed.D.'s 25-year career spans teaching (elementary through graduate school), overseeing curriculum and instruction, and academic leadership for grades K-5, most recently as Upper (Elementary) School Head at Saint Mark’s School in Altadena. Her published work and academic presentations address such topics as global partnerships, multicultural classrooms, assessment practices, and the joy of social and emotional learning.
The 7th Grade Cultural Studies program is an interdisciplinary course that combines English (taught by John Cross) and history (taught by Gigi Bizar) to engage students in connecting historical and cultural events.
Sixth Grade Math Teacher Kenzie Brownsmith has a B.A. in Urban Environmental Policy from Occidental College and multiple subject teaching credentials from CalStateTEACH. Kenzie's wife, Val Brownsmith, teaches Middle School mathematics here at Westridge.
Middle and Upper School Orchestra Teacher Kerri Epps earned her Bachelors degree in Music Education with an emphasis in violin from UCLA and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Music Teaching and Learning from the University of Southern California. She has nearly 10 years of teaching experience that ranges from the elementary to the collegiate level.
Rob Greene came to Westridge in the fall of 2015 with an interesting background combining science, education, and environmental studies. After earning a B.A. in Environmental Science from Miami University, he worked for the National Park Services, Audubon Society, and Los Angeles County with their outdoor science programs. Prior to Westridge, he taught at Rolling Hills Prep and Renaissance School, designing programs for students with learning disabilities.
Ryan joined Westridge in 2013, following two years as a visiting assistant professor at Whittier College, where he taught college writing and lower and upper division biology classes. Prior to that, he was a postdoctoral researcher and visiting scholar at University of California, Riverside. He holds a B.A. from Pomona College and Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.
![Stephanie Bolton]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1593715897/westridge/churaauhxvmfvjxtukrv/Stephanie-Bolton-square.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1593715897/westridge/churaauhxvmfvjxtukrv/Stephanie-Bolton-square.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1593715897/westridge/churaauhxvmfvjxtukrv/Stephanie-Bolton-square.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1593715897/westridge/churaauhxvmfvjxtukrv/Stephanie-Bolton-square.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1593715897/westridge/churaauhxvmfvjxtukrv/Stephanie-Bolton-square.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1593715897/westridge/churaauhxvmfvjxtukrv/Stephanie-Bolton-square.jpg","width":2000}])
Stephanie earned her Master of Library & Information Science with a focus on youth librarianship from UCLA and has since worked as assistant librarian at Pacific Oaks College and as an apprentice librarian at Windward School. Before pursuing her passion for library science, she held diverse positions working in a veterinary clinic, photography studio, and as a costuming intern at Walt Disney World.
In this interview, get to know Upper School English teacher Tarra Stevenson, who describes why the Perspectives in Literature class (pictured above) is like a "playground," why she chose to teach at Westridge, and more.
Valerie "Val" Brownsmith joined Westridge in 2017 to teach 7th grade mathematics. A graduate of Smith College, she earned her master's degree in administration from Concordia University, and has 10 years of experience teaching math and developing curriculum in the Glendale Unified School District. In this Q&A, find out more about her work at Westridge to make learning math a hands-on and all-around fun experience.
ELIZABETH McGREGOR
Head of School
B.Ed., University of London
M.Ed., Columbia University
ELIAS AGUILAR
Maintenance Technician
AMBER DOUGLAS ARBET '01
Faculty - 5th Grade Language Arts/Social Science
B.A., University of Southern California
M.A., University of Southern California
GARY BALDWIN
Director of Upper School
B.A., Colgate University
M.A., University of Nebraska
A.L.M., Harvard University
GIGI BIZAR
Faculty - Middle School History
B.A., Mills College
Single Subject Teaching Credential, Mills College
KASHMIR BLAKE
Faculty - Middle & Upper School Dance
Dance Conservatory Diploma, Boston Conservatory of Music
Ballet Society of Connecticut
KELLY BLOCK
Director of Human Resources
B.A., California State University, Los Angeles
STEPHANIE BOLTON
Librarian
B.A., University of Central Oklahoma
M.L.I.S., University of California, Los Angeles
DANICA BOURGAULT
Business Office Coordinator
JESSICA BREMMER
Faculty - English
B.A., Kennesaw State University
M.A., Georgia State University
M.A., University of Southern California
Ph.D., University of Southern California
LINDA BROWNRIDGE
Faculty - Middle & Upper School Art
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
KENZIE BROWNSMITH
Faculty - 6th Grade Math
B.A., Occidental College
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, CalStateTEACH
VALERIE BROWNSMITH
Faculty - 7th Grade Math
M.S., Concordia University
JOE BUSCH
Faculty - Upper School Math
B.A., Boston University
M.S., New York University
M.A., University of California, Los Angeles
C.Phil., University of California, Los Angeles
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
DANIEL CALMEYER
Faculty - Upper School Math, Yearbook Advisor
B.A., University of California, Berkeley
M.A., University of Phoenix, Honolulu
LISA CARRUTHERS
Director of Counseling and Student Support
B.A., Olivet Nazarene University
M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary
M.S., Fuller Theological Seminary
M.A., Rosemead School of Psychology
Psy.D., Rosemead School of Psychology
GUSTAVO CASTANEDA
Dining Services
BARBRA CHABOT
Faculty - Middle School Science
B.S., Stanford University
M.A., Stanford University
SAMANTHA CHAFFIN
Webmaster & Online Content Manager
B.A., University of Southern California
THOMPSON CHEN
Network Administrator
B.S., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
ALLISON CLARK '07
Faculty - Physical Education
B.A., University of Redlands
M.Ed., University of Washington
BRITTANY COKER
Dean of Upper School Student Activities
B.S., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
M.Ed., Azusa Pacific University
M.S., Clemson University
CYNTHIA CONTEAS-WOOD
Director of Health and Wellness
B.S., Mount Saint Mary’s College
M.P.A., University of San Francisco
KIM COTA
Controller
B.S., California State University, Northridge
M.B.A., Pepperdine
JOHN CROSS
Faculty - Middle School English/Upper School Creative Writing
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
M.F.A., University of Iowa
LEAH DAHL
Faculty - Upper School Math
B.A., Princeton University
NICOLE DALTON
Speech & Debate Teacher/Coach
B.A., Seton Hall University
M.F.A., Brandeis University
JULIA DAVIS
Faculty - Middle & Upper School Theatre
B.A., San Francisco State University
M.F.A., University of Southern California
SANDY de GRIJS
Faculty - Upper School History
B.A., University of Michigan
M.A., University of California, Los Angeles
LORRI DEYER
Faculty - Middle and Upper School Art
B.A., University of Florida
M.F.A., California State University, Los Angeles
DEMI DUENES
Administrative Assistant to Lower & Middle School
B.A., Occidental College
MADELEINE EATON
Faculty - Lower School Strings
B.M., Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, California State University, Long Beach
JULIE EHRHARDT
Executive Assistant to Head of School
B.A., California Lutheran University
AARON EICHELBERGER
Faculty - Upper School Science
B.S., University of Maryland, College Park
M.S., California Institute of Technology
HILARY EICHELBERGER
Faculty - Upper School Latin
B.A., University of Michigan
M.A., University of Southern California
Ed.D., University of La Verne
KERRI EPPS
Faculty - Middle & Upper School Orchestra
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
Single Subject Teaching Credential, UCLA Center X
ROLANDO FERNANDEZ
Production Assistant
Certificate, Pasadena City College
JACKSON FINNERMAN
Registrar
REBECA FROHMADER
Advancement Services Coordinator
B.A., Pomona College
M.S., Copenhagen Business School
VICTORIA GARRETT
Faculty - Upper School Spanish
B.A., University of Alabama, Birmingham
M.A., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
ROB GREENE
Faculty - Middle & Upper School Science
B.A., Miami University
Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education, La Trobe University, Australia
WILLA GREENSTONE
Faculty - Upper School History
B.A., Vassar College
KAREN HANSELMAN
Faculty - Lower & Middle School Physical Education
B.A., California State University, Northridge
MASAMI HANSEN
Dean of Lower & Middle School Student Support
B.A., Principia College
TSIA HARRIS
Library Assistant
A.S., California Culinary Academy, San Francisco
BILL HARRISON
Faculty - Upper School History
B.A., University of Oregon
M.A., San Francisco State University
Graduate Credential in Education, University of California, Santa Cruz
LAURA HATCHMAN
Faculty - Upper School Science
Science Department Chair
B.S., Cornell University
M.A.T., Brown University
IOANNA HAWK SABLAN
Costume Designer
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
B.F.A., California Institute of the Arts
KENDIS HEFFLEY
Chief Finance & Operations Officer
B.B.A., University of Southern California
M.B.A., UCLA Anderson School of Management
FARRELL HEYDORFF
Dean of Lower and Middle School Student Activities
B.A., Ashford University
M.Ed., Concordia University, Oregon
STELLA HO
Senior IT Manager
B.S., California State University, Los Angeles
M.S., University of Phoenix
MELANIE HORN
Director of Athletics
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., California State University, Fullerton
DANIELLE HOUSER
Faculty - Lower School Math
B.S., State University of New York at New Paltz
M.A., Adelphi University
M.A., Ball State University
FANG-YU HULL
Faculty - Middle & Upper School Mandarin Chinese
B.A., Shih Hsin University, Taipei, Taiwan
M.A., California State University, Long Beach
ALEXANDRA HUSMANN '13
Faculty - Middle School Computer Science
B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz
JENNIFER IRISH
Faculty – Middle School History & Human Development
B.A., Arizona State University
SARAH JALLO
Senior Director for Enrollment Management & Student Outcomes
B.A., Emerson College
M.A., California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo
JUANITA JIMENEZ
Faculty - Art
B.F.A., Chouinard Art School, California Institute of the Arts
LIZ JIN
Assistant Controller
M.S., Texas A&M University
FELICIA JOHNSON
Director of Facilities
B.S., University of California, Los Angeles
Project Management Certification, University of California, Irvine
PAUL KAILA
Junior Network Administrator
B.S., California State University, Pomona
JAN KELLOGG
Production Manager
B.A., Marquette University
MELISSA KELLEY
Faculty - Upper School History
B.A., Smith College
Ph.D. candidate, University of Minnesota
ZANITA KELLY
Director of Lower & Middle School
B.S., University of Illinois
M.Ed., National Louis University
C.A.S., University of Illinois
Ed.D., Pepperdine University
KIM KERSCHER
Director of Marketing and Communications
B.A., University of Chicago
LIZ KIM
Faculty - Lower School Science
B.S., University of California, Davis
Single Subject Teaching Credential
M.A., California State University, Los Angeles
BILL KINGSBURY
Technical Director
B.F.A., Emerson College
CHRISTINE KIPHART
Faculty - 6th Grade Language Arts/Social Science and 7th Grade Human Development
B.S., Indiana State University
M.A., Pepperdine University
KELLY KOCH
Faculty - Middle School Math
BS.c., University of Regina, Canada
BE.d., University of Regina, Canada
BRANDON KRUHM
Director of Theatre
B.F.A., Adelphi University
SABRINA LEON
Faculty - Lower School Spanish and Computers
B.A., Occidental College
ERIC LIBICKI
Faculty - Upper School Math
B.A., Occidental College
M.S., University of Southern California
CHRISTA LORENZ
Director of Annual Giving
B.A., Chapman University
M.A., California State University, Long Beach
LILIAN MALDONADO
Faculty - Middle School Spanish
B.S., Francisco José de Caldas District University (Colombia)
Human Development & Public Policy Certification, University of Latin American Faculty of social Studies (Argentina)
Single Subject Teaching Credential
M.A., Salamanca University (Spain)
BONNIE PAIS MARTINEZ
Upper School Dean of Student Life
B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
KATIE McDERMOTT
Scenic & Properties Designer
B.F.A., Western Washington University
M.F.A., Indiana University
TAMI MILLARD
Learning Support Specialist
B.A., Colorado State University
M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary
M.Ed., Azusa Pacific University
SALLY MILLER
Director of Technology
B.A., Chapman University
M.A., California State University, San Bernardino
BRIAN MURDOCK
A/V & Tech Support
LYNN O'GRADY
Director of College Counseling
B.S., University of Minnesota
M.A., Point Loma Nazarene College
DIANA BERNAL O'LEARY
Director of Advancement
B.S., DePaul University
M.S., Loyola University Chicago
KATHLEEN O’REILLY
Senior College Counseling Associate
B.F.A., Otis College of Art and Design
SHINNSHILL PARK
Faculty - Lower & Middle School Chorus
B.M., Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, Korea
M.M., Westminster Choir College
D.M.A., University of Southern California
EMMA PELL
Communications Associate
B.A., University of California, Berkeley
SANDRA PENROD
Application Support Specialist
B.A., California State University, Long Beach
M.S., California State University, Long Beach
JESSICA PEREZ DEL TORO
Faculty - Upper School Spanish and Partnership for Success! Site Director
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
M.A., University of Southern California
M.A., University of Salamanca
Ed.D., University of California, Los Angeles
SUSI PETTERSSON
Faculty - Lower School Math
B.A., Denison University
M.A.T., Simmons College
DIANE PINTABONE
Faculty - Middle and Upper School Latin
B.A., Boston College
M.A., University of Colorado at Boulder
Ph.D., University of Southern California
California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential
DAVID PRINCE
Faculty - Upper School Art & STEAMWork Design Studio Coordinator
B.A., Colorado College
M.F.A., School of the Art Institute of Chicago
ED RAINES
Faculty - Upper School English
B.A., University of Miami
M.A., Purdue University
NIURKA RAMIREZ
Faculty - Upper School Spanish
B.A., Universidad de La Habana
M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
MARCUS RANDOLPH
Campus Safety
CANDACE RIECKE
Main Office Assistant
MARCIE ROBINSON
College Counselor
B.A., Loyola Marymount University
MONICA SANCHEZ-LANGLEY
Faculty - Digital Literacy Coordinator, Lower School Computer Science
B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
M.A., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
ANTHONY SCEARCE
Campus Safety & Security Manager
EDWIN SCOTT
Faculty - Physical Education
B.A., Missouri University of Science & Technology
COURTNEY SEIBERLING
Faculty - Middle & Upper School Yoga
B.F.A., University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music
LILY SHANG
Faculty - Middle School Mandarin
A.A., Beijing Foreign Studies University
B.A., Beijing Language & Culture University
MARGARET SHOEMAKER
Director of Admission & Enrollment Management
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
M.Ed., University of California, Los Angeles
Ed.D., University of California, Los Angeles
SARAH SIMON
Human Development Coordinator
B.A., Sarah Lawrence College
M.A., Sarah Lawrence College
M.Ed. and Ph.D. candidate, Widener University
BONNIE SINGH '14
Administrative Assistant to College Counseling
B.A., Scripps College
KATIE SIVERS
Faculty - Middle & Upper School Art
B.A., University of California, Davis
M.F.A., California Institute of the Arts
RYAN SKOPHAMMER
Faculty - Upper School Science
B.A., Pomona College
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
SHA'TRECE SLAUGHTER '10
Admission Associate
B.A., University of Southern California
M.A., New York University
ASHLEY SNEED
Assistant to the Director of Upper School
B.A., Ball State University
VALERIE TRIMARCHI
Faculty - Lower School Art
B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
B.F.A., Art Center College of Design
PAUL STEPHENSON
Faculty - Upper School Choral Music
B.A., Westmont College
M.A., California State University, Los Angeles
ERICA ST. JOHN
Faculty - Upper School English and Service Learning Coordinator
B.A., University of Colorado, Boulder
TARRA STEVENSON
Faculty - Upper School English, Creative Writing
B.A., University of California, Davis
M.A., Loyola Marymount University
M.F.A., University of California, Riverside
ANAHIT TURGMAN
Advancement Associate
B.A., University of California, Riverside
BROOKE SURIN
Faculty - Upper School Science
B.A., Point Loma Nazarene University
EDYE UDELL
Faculty - Upper School Science
B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
LISA VANDERGRIFF
Director of Alumnae Affairs
B.A., California State University, Northridge
CYNTHIA VELASQUEZ
Facilities Assistant
B.A., Mount Saint Mary's University
KATIE ROTHENBERG WEI ’94
Faculty - Upper School English
B.A., Vassar College
REGINA WEI
Faculty - Human Development and Co-Dean of Student Voices
B.A., University of Washington
Post-Bacc. Cert in Secondary Education, University of Hawaii
M.A., University of California, Los Angeles
M.A. MFT, California School of Professional Psychology (Alliant)
MEGAN WHITAKER-LEMAY
Faculty - Lower School Language Arts/Social Science
B.A., University of California Los Angeles
GRANT WOOD
Faculty - Upper School Math
Diploma in Teaching, Bachelor of Teaching, Adelaide College of Arts and Education
BRANDON WORRELL
Director of Dining Services
B.S., Art Institute of California at Los Angeles
REBECCA YEH
Advancement Administrative Assistant
B.M., California State University, Northridge
MOLLY YURCHAK
Faculty - Upper School English
B.A., Colgate University
M.A., Bread Loaf School of English/Middlebury College
JENNY YURSHANSKY
Faculty - Middle School Art
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
Post-Graduate Studies, Malmö Art Academy
M.F.A, University of California, Irvine
ANDREW ZHOU
Faculty - Upper School Math
B.S., Harbin Institute of Technology
M.S., Lamar University
ANDRE ZUMAETA
Athletics Assistant and Athletics Trainer
B.S., California State University, Long Beach